If you think your deduction is wrong

First, check these seven things

  1. When was your bet struck? Bets placed after the withdrawal and the new market are not hit by that withdrawal (a further withdrawal can still affect them).
  2. What price was the withdrawn horse? Tattersalls, Sky Bet, Betfair and bet365 use its price at the time of withdrawal. Ladbrokes' shop rules use the price when your bet was accepted. Ask which your bookmaker used (see the scale page).
  3. Is it a win bet? Each-way, ante-post, Tote and exchange bets follow different rules.
  4. Does your bookmaker waive 5p? William Hill says a total deduction of 5p is waived. Others may keep it.
  5. Which band does the price fall in? Check the scale. Bands differ slightly between guides.
  6. Were there two withdrawals? They add up, to a maximum of 90p in the £.
  7. Was your stake touched? It should never be: only winnings are reduced.

Then: take it as far as you can with the bookmaker

  1. Ask the bookmaker, in writing, to show how the deduction was worked out: the withdrawn horse, the price used, the time.
  2. Use their formal complaints process and keep going until they tell you they can do no more.

If it is still unresolved: IBAS

IBAS (the Independent Betting Adjudication Service) is a free service for disputes with licensed gambling operators. It gives impartial adjudications. This is how its own page says to go about it:

  1. Try the operator first. IBAS asks you to make every reasonable effort to settle it with the company. For a growing number of businesses, IBAS will not look at a dispute until the company has told you in writing to contact IBAS, or has given you a reference code or number showing it can do no more.
  2. Register on the IBAS website (your email address and a password; they email you to verify the address). A paper claim form can be requested by post, but online is faster.
  3. Choose "Make a claim" and fill in the form. Explain clearly and briefly: what you did and when, what outcome you expected and why, what actually happened, the explanation the company gave, and what has happened since.
  4. Attach evidence such as screenshots, and give your account number, username or bet receipt/ticket number.
  5. Keep the correspondence short. If your complaint relies on one email or live chat, include just that one. They can ask for more.
  6. Answer quickly if they ask for more information, and watch your email, as delays often come from a missed follow-up.

Source: IBAS: how to raise a dispute (as read on 29 October 2026). Details and time limits can change, so check the page before you apply. The Tattersalls Committee also hears disputes about its Rules on Betting and on-course bets.

Common mix-ups